Abraham Lincoln once famously remarked: “He
who represents himself has a fool for a client.”
Why did President Lincoln, an attorney, feel
compelled to make that statement? And could the same logic be true for
modern-day Israel advocates who try to explain Israel’s case without relying on
outside help?
To understand the answer to the question of
whether a person should retain an attorney – or whether a dedicated Zionist
might consider consulting with someone who knows almost nothing about Israel –
one need only look to the basic problem of trying to go at it alone: lack of
perspective.
In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, “The
Source of Bad Writing,” Harvard Professor Steven Pinker suggests that the
“curse of knowledge” may lead a writer to assume that a reader will know as
much about a subject as the writer does. Pinker cites examples of how experts
with deep knowledge on a subject may be unable to share their insights not only
with laypeople, but also with well-informed peers. Pinker claims that this kind
of “curse” has nothing to do with ignorance or low intelligence; in fact, it's
often the brightest and best informed who suffer the most from it.
This may be where the fresh perspective of an
outsider may be invaluable.
Most people in the world know little about
Israel. However, even the most uninformed
person who has never studied Israel’s history, its security challenges, nor
even where Israel is located on a map, may be better positioned to place
themselves in the shoes and mindsets of the average person than nearly every Israel
supporter. An Israel advocate may know all the facts inside and out, but an
outsider with fresh perspective may be better positioned to explain how to connect
most people with Israel.
Many pro-Israel advocates may believe that
forceful persuasion is the best way to advance Israel’s case. Their goal may be
to counter all Israel “critics” as they attempt to convince the whole world to
see Israel as they do. However, after 66
years of clinging to this method without proof of its success, perhaps it is
time to try a new approach?
Good listening skills and patience are
critical to gaining new insights. When
speaking with someone who knows little about a subject, it is essential to avoid
argument and attempts to dominate the conversation and “correct”
misperceptions. Instead, it may be more fruitful to participate in an honest dialogue
using an open, courteous, and hospitable manner. To learn from another’s
perspective, we must respond with genuine interest through real conversation. If
we want to determine new ways to engage the average person, we must be willing
to let go of our old positions and time-hardened ideas.
The give-and-take process of talking and
listening to another’s feedback is critical to crafting a compelling message. Many
rounds of open conversation with a variety of outsiders who lack the Zionist’s “curse
of knowledge” may be required. As writer John Keats once penned, "I have
written a long letter … because I did not have time enough to write a short
one." The process is no different for learning new shortcuts to understanding
how to engage others on Israel.
In the famous Rock Island Bridge trial of 1857, lawyer Abraham
Lincoln was able to avoid the “curse of knowledge” and prevail against his powerful
adversaries, the steamboat operators who wanted to prevent the construction of new
railroad bridges. While Lincoln’s
pre-trial work included in-depth research on the mechanics of railroad bridge
construction, the velocity of Mississippi river currents, and the navigation of
steamboats, at trial, he presented simple arguments that were easily understood
by jurors without any special knowledge: “A man has just as much right to cross
a river as another has to go up and down that river.”
Modern-day Israel supporters can learn from Lincoln. With intractable problems in the Middle East
dominating the news, there is a huge opportunity to build new relationships
with the great majority of people who suddenly may be curious about Israel’s
case. However, because of the “curse of
knowledge,” those of us who know the most
about Israel may be the least able to connect with these newcomers. To engage the
average person, it may be time to learn fresh approaches from people who know almost nothing about Israel.
